Liquid dispensing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a liquid dispensing apparatus having a reservoir for storing a liquid, such as liquid detergent. Furthermore, a supporting area is located atop the reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil, wherein the reservoir and the supporting area are one-piece forming. Moreover, a spout is mounted on the top of the reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from the reservoir by using the spout onto the cleaning utensil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to a liquid dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a liquid detergent dispensing apparatus applied in kitchen, bathroom or similar occasions.

2. Description of the Prior Art

At present, liquid cleaners, such as dishwashing detergent, are packaged and sold commercially in plastic squeeze bottles or plastic containers having an open mouth with a hand pump mechanism installed therein. The conventional plastic containers with a hand pump allow the user to press the pump, using one hand, in order to eject the desired amount of detergent onto a sponge, holding by another hand. The foregoing procedure usually results in some inconveniences in ordinary life. For example, detergent frequently leaks from the open mouth of the container and sticks to the vicinity of a kitchen or bathroom sink. This represents both a source of waste and also an annoyance, since the spilled detergent liquid must then be cleaned up.

Another inconvenience that exists in the kitchen or bathrooms of many households is the absence of a holder system for conveniently storing a sponge and detergent in close proximity to each other. Very frequently, the sponge is placed on the edge of a sink. The sponge will frequently be inadvertently knocked into the sink, or otherwise become temporarily lost or misplaced.

On the other hand, U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,960 to Barwin (2003) teaches a liquid dispenser and applicator wherein preferably liquid cosmetics or medical ointments are pumped from a reservoir onto an applicator. According to FIG. 8 (as shown in FIG. 1 of this specification), a detent mechanism is provided for attaching the applicator to the reservoir, the applicator being detachable from the reservoir in order to receive liquid from the spout and permit the applicator to be used to apply the liquid to a surface. The applicator further comprises a sponge holder and a sponge attachable to the sponge holder, and this configuration is not preferable for application of liquid detergent to a kitchen or bathroom sponge.

common procedure for using a sponge is to apply a small amount of liquid detergent to it, run it under water, then kneed the sponge to a lather. This is done to determine if further application of detergent is required to perform the particular cleaning task. This is not practical with the Barwin invention. Common usage of a kitchen or bathroom sponge requires that it be completely flexible for cleaning contours such as the inside of a drinking glass. Attachment of a sponge to a sponge holder limits its ability to perform most cleaning tasks. Additionally, because of the attaching-detaching mechanism between the applicator and the reservoir, the sponge holder tends to wear down easily and deteriorate more rapidly.

To solve the above-mentioned problems associated with the storage and use of detergents and sponges, a new apparatus for dispensing liquid is still needed corresponding to both economic effect and utilization in industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a new liquid dispensing apparatus is provided. This apparatus can meet the requirement of saving detergent, keeping sink clean and storing a sponge and detergent in close proximity to each other.

One object of the present invention is to provide supporting area atop the reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil. Additionally, another object of the present invention is that the reservoir and the supporting area are one-piece forming. The one-piece configurations have higher mechanical strength and are fabricated from simplified procedure comparing to conventional technology. Therefore, this present invention does have the economic advantages for industrial applications.

Accordingly, the present invention discloses a liquid dispensing apparatus having a reservoir for storing a liquid, such as liquid detergent. Furthermore, a supporting area is located atop the reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil, wherein the reservoir and the supporting area are one-piece forming. Moreover, a spout is mounted on the top of the reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from the reservoir by using the spout onto the cleaning utensil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of a liquid dispenser of prior art;

FIG. 2A is a three dimensional view of an example of a liquid dispensing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing apparatus of FIG. 2A taken along line A-A;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing apparatus of FIG. 2A taken along line B-B;

FIG. 2D is a three dimensional view of another example of a liquid dispensing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2E is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing apparatus of FIG. 2D taken along line C-C;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of an example of a liquid dispensing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of another example of a liquid dispensing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a liquid dispensing apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

What is probed into the invention is a liquid dispensing apparatus. Detail descriptions of the structure and elements will be provided in the following in order to make the invention thoroughly understood. Obviously, the application of the invention is not confined to specific details familiar to those who are skilled in the art. On the other hand, the common structures and elements that are known to everyone are not described in details to avoid unnecessary limits of the invention. Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail in the following. However, it should be recognized that the present invention can be practiced in a wide range of other embodiments besides those explicitly described, that is, this invention can also be applied extensively to other embodiments, and the scope of the present invention is expressly not limited except as specified in the accompanying claims.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a liquid dispensing apparatus is provided having a reservoir for storing a liquid, such as liquid detergent. Furthermore, at least one sidewall is located atop the reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil, such as sponge, fabric pads, porous membranes, porous balls or webs, wherein the reservoir and the sidewall are one-piece forming. The one-piece configurations have higher mechanical strength and are fabricated from simplified procedure. Besides, the material of the reservoir and the sidewall is selected from the following group: metal, ceramic, plastic and glass. Additionally, a spout is mounted on the top of the reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from the reservoir by using the spout onto the cleaning utensil. On the other hand, the bottom surface of the interior of the reservoir is concave, and the lowest point on the bottom surface right upwardly facing the spout.

Referring to FIG. 2A, in a better example of this embodiment, a liquid dispensing apparatus 21 for storing and discharging liquid detergent onto a sponge 22 is indicated, wherein the liquid dispensing apparatus 21 has a reservoir 216 and a pump 210 mounted on the top of reservoir 216. Reservoir 216 contains a liquid such as liquid detergent which may be pumped from reservoir 216 using pump 210. When pump 210 is pumped, the liquid contained in reservoir 216 is dispensed from reservoir 216 via a discharge outlet in the nature of a spout 211 of pump 210. The tip of spout 211 is positioned over the sponge 22. Furthermore, the liquid dispensing apparatus 21 also provides a supporting area 215 to uphold the sponge 22. This support area 215 is defined by an encircling sidewall 214, and the encircling sidewall 214 can keep the sponge 22 from falling. The reservoir 216 and the sidewall 214 are one-piece forming.

In this example, pump 210 has a tube 212 connected to spout 211 to provide a conduit for supplying liquid from reservoir 216 to spout 211. Reservoir 216 has a reservoir opening 213 for receiving tube 212 of pump 210. When assembled, pump 210 preferably include a threaded neck surrounding the reservoir hole 213 onto which pump 210 may be screwed to be removeably attached thereto. In such a case, pump 210 would be correspondingly threaded to mate with the neck of reservoir 216. With pump 210 being removable the user is able to refill reservoir 216 with liquid detergent when the original supply is exhausted. Other methods for attaching pump 210 to reservoir 216 are possible, such as: snapping, friction fit, and so on. Moreover, FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing apparatus 21 of FIG. 2A taken along line A-A, and FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing apparatus 21 of FIG. 2A taken along line B-B. The bottom surface 217 of the interior of the reservoir 216 is concave, and the lowest point 218 on the bottom surface 217 right upwardly facing the tube 218, such that liquid detergent contained therein will collect in reservoir 216 near tube 212 of pump 210. The lowest point 218 encourages liquid detergent to pool in the area of tube 212 when the supply of liquid detergent in reservoir 216 is nearly exhausted.

Referring to FIG. 2D, in another better example of this embodiment, a liquid dispensing apparatus 23 for storing and discharging liquid detergent onto a sponge is indicated, wherein the liquid dispensing apparatus 23 also provides a supporting area 235 to uphold the sponge. This support area 235 is defined between a sidewall 234 and pump 230. The reservoir 236 and the sidewall 234 are one-piece forming. Moreover, FIG. 2E is a cross-sectional view of the liquid dispensing apparatus 23 of FIG. 2D taken along line C-C, the bottom surface 237 and the lowest point 238 is similar to the bottom surface 217 and the lowest point 218 of FIG. 2B.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, a liquid dispensing apparatus is provided having a reservoir for storing a liquid, such as liquid detergent. Furthermore, a depression is located atop the reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil, such as sponge, fabric pads, porous membranes, porous balls or webs, wherein the reservoir and the depression are one-piece forming. The one-piece configurations have higher mechanical strength and are fabricated from simplified procedure. Besides, the material of the reservoir and the depression is selected from the following group: metal, ceramic, plastic and glass. Additionally, a spout is mounted on the top of the reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from the reservoir by using the spout onto the cleaning utensil. On the other hand, the bottom surface of the interior of the reservoir is concave, and the lowest point on the bottom surface right upwardly facing the spout.

Referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, in a better example of this embodiment, a liquid dispensing apparatus 31 and 32 for storing and discharging liquid detergent onto a sponge is indicated, wherein the liquid dispensing apparatus 31 and 32 also provides a supporting area 315 and 325 to uphold the sponge. This support area 315 and 325 are saddle-shaped. The reservoir 316 and the support area 315 are one-piece forming, so do reservoir 326 and support area 325.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, a liquid dispensing apparatus is provided having a reservoir for storing a liquid, such as liquid detergent. Furthermore, a spout is mounted on the top of the reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from the reservoir by using the spout onto a cleaning utensil, such as sponge, fabric pads, porous membranes, porous balls or webs. Additionally, a supporting portion is located atop the reservoir, inclined toward the spout, to retain the cleaning utensil, wherein the reservoir and the supporting portion are one-piece forming. The one-piece configurations have higher mechanical strength and are fabricated from simplified procedure. Besides, the material of the reservoir and the supporting portion is selected from the following group: metal, ceramic, plastic and glass. On the other hand, the bottom surface of the interior of the reservoir is concave, and the lowest point on the bottom surface right upwardly facing the spout.

Referring to FIG. 4A, in a better example of this embodiment, a liquid dispensing apparatus 41 for storing and discharging liquid detergent onto a sponge is indicated, wherein the liquid dispensing apparatus 41 also provides a supporting area 415 to uphold the sponge. This support area 415 is a plane inclined toward the spout 411, to retain the sponge. The reservoir 416 and the support area 415 are one-piece forming.

In the above preferred embodiments, the present invention provides supporting area atop the reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil. Additionally, another object of the present invention is that the reservoir and the supporting area are one-piece forming. The one-piece configurations have higher mechanical strength and are fabricated from simplified procedure comparing to conventional technology. Therefore, this present invention does have the economic advantages for industrial applications.

To sum up, the present invention discloses a liquid dispensing apparatus having a reservoir for storing a liquid, such as liquid detergent. Furthermore, a supporting area is located atop the reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil, wherein the reservoir and the supporting area are one-piece forming. Moreover, a spout is mounted on the top of the reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from the reservoir by using the spout onto the cleaning utensil.

Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the present invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from what is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims. 

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a reservoir for storing a liquid; at least one sidewall located atop said reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil, wherein said reservoir and said sidewall are one-piece forming; and a spout mounted on the top of said reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from said reservoir by using said spout onto the cleaning utensil.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sidewall is an encircling wall.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material of said reservoir and said sidewall is selected from the following group: metal, ceramic, plastic and glass.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the interior of said reservoir is concave, and the lowest point on the bottom surface right upwardly facing said spout.
 5. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a reservoir for storing a liquid; a depression located atop said reservoir to retain a cleaning utensil, wherein said reservoir and said depression are one-piece forming; and a spout mounted on the top of said reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from said reservoir by using said spout onto the cleaning utensil.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the material of said reservoir and said depression is selected from the following group: metal, ceramic, plastic and glass.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the bottom surface of the interior of said reservoir is concave, and the lowest point on the bottom surface right upwardly facing said spout
 8. A liquid dispensing apparatus, comprising: a reservoir for storing a liquid; a spout mounted on the top of said reservoir, wherein the liquid is discharged from said reservoir by using said spout onto a cleaning utensil; and a supporting portion located atop said reservoir, inclined toward said spout, to retain the cleaning utensil, wherein said reservoir and said supporting portion are one-piece forming.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the material of said reservoir and said supporting portion is selected from the following group: metal, ceramic, plastic and glass.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bottom surface of the interior of said reservoir is concave, and the lowest point on the bottom surface right upwardly facing said spout. 